ə̇ˈmaj(ə)nə]d.]iv, -jəˌnā], ]t], ]ēv also ]əv\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French imaginatif, from imagination + -if -ive
1. : of or relating to the imagination: as
a. : created, inspired, guided, or drawn from the imagination and not from known facts or sources
an imaginative biography
b. : tending to provoke, excite, or enliven the imagination
a few imaginative comments
c.
(1) : able to handle new or difficult problems : resourceful
a young and imaginative general
(2) : imbued with or showing an ability to draw conclusions, suggest hypotheses, make comparisons, or create systems
an imaginative interpretation of a poem
an imaginative critic
imaginative research
(3) : full of freshness, originality, or vividness
imaginative patterns
d. : devoid of truth : false
the report of his death was wholly imaginative
2. : of or relating to images ; especially : showing a distinctive or fine command of artistic images
imaginative diction